Heat exchanger



April 17, 1934. J. PRICE HEAT EXCHANGER Filed April 7, 1952 I I: .T I I. iiQZiQiih O O 0 O O O 0 O 0 0 0 O Q 0 O 0 0 O 0 000 000000000 0 O 0 GO 0000 O0 0 O 00 O O 0 00000 NVENTOR 5% s .PR

w m k E ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 17, 1934 HEAT EXCHANGER Joseph Price, West New Brighton, Staten Island,

N. Y., assignor to The Griscom-Rnssell Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April '7, 1932, Serial'No. 603,761

3 Claims.

This invention relates to heat exchangers of the shell and tube type comprising an outer shell of cylindrical or other form, and a bundle of tubes within this shell, the tubes being mounted in 5 a tube sheet associated with or.forming a part of a stationary head secured to the shell. The invention is particularly concerned with the construction of the stationary head and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a heat ex- 0 changer of the multi-pass type that is especially adapted to handle a fluid under high pressure. A feature of the invention is the construction and arrangement of the stationary head andstationary head cover wherein the multi-pass principle is utilized and the pressure of the fluid in the stationary head holds the stationary head cover firmly against its seat.

In multi-pass heat exchangers it is the usual practice to provide several partitions within the stationary head, these partitions being arranged in such a manner that they divide the entire space between the tube sheet and the stationary head cover into a series of compartments, each communicating with a separate group of the heat exchanger tubes. The partitions ordinarily extend from the tube sheet into direct contact with the stationary head cover and this cover is held in place on the outside of the stationary head by bolts or the like. Whenever a fluid under considerable pressure is supplied to the stationary head the fluid pressure has a tendency to force the stationary head cover away from its seat.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a multi-pass heat exchanger having one or more partitions within the stationary head for producing a multi-pass flow of the heating fluid and also having a stationary head cover located within the stationary head chamber and arranged in such a manner that the pressure of the fluid in this chamber holds the cover firmly against its seat. In general, this object is attained by providing one or more partitions in the stationary head chamber in spaced relation to the cover plate, and one or more auxiliary cover plates seemed to the partitions, the partitions and cover plates being arranged so as to divide the chamber into the desired number of compartments communicating with the tubes. The main cover plate for the stationary headis of such configuration that itmay be passed through the opening in the end of the stationary head into a position within the chamber where it is held against an internal flange forming a part of the stationary head, the cover being held firmly in place by the pressure of the fluid supplied to the stationary head. The opening in the end of the head may be oval or of some other elongated configuration, with the main cover plate of a corresponding shape, whereby the cover plate may be turned edge-wise and passed through the opening into the interior of the stationary head.

'By having the-stationary head partitions spaced is provided with a chamber of suflicient dimensions to accommodate the partitions and the auxiliary cover plate or plates secured to the partitions, and also the main cover plate. The main cover plate may be clamped against its seat by any suitable means, but I prefer to employ a clamping member engaging the outer rim of the opening in the end of the stationary head and means for securing this clamping member to the cover plate located within the stationary head.

The various objects and advantages of my invention will be more apparent upon considering the following detailed description which is to be taken" in conjunction with the accompanying drawing of which:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of a heat exchanger embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an end elevation taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises a heat exchanger including a cylindrical shell 1 having a .cap 2 closing one end thereof and connected to a tube sheet 3 by a plurality 'of bolts 4. The shell 1 contains a number of tubes 5 expanded into or otherwise secured to the tube sheet 3. The shell 1 is provided with a fluid inlet 6 and with a fluid outlet '7 and a longitudinallyextending battle 8 is mounted within the shell so as to divide 1 0 the space therein into two compartments communicating with each other near that end of the shell adjacent to the cap 2. The arrangement is such that a fluid entering the shell through the intake port 6 traverses the length of the shell to the cap 2 and then flows back toward the tube sheet "3, the fluid being discharged through the port '7. The tubes 5 may be of U-shaped construction with both ends of each tube secured to the tube sheet 3, or they may besubstantially straight tubes having their ends secured to tube sheets located at the opposite ends of the shell. In either case the tubes are arranged so as to provide for a multi-pass flow of the fluid supplied to the tubes.

The tube sheet 3 is illustrated as forming an integral part of the stationary head 9. This stationary head consists of a single block of metal of relatively massive proportions adapted to Withstand high pressure. The stationary head is provided with a chamber 10 and with a fluid inlet 11 and a fluid outlet 12. The outer end of the stationary head 9 is provided with an opening 13 of suflicient size to permit ready access to the chamber 10 and to the'tube sheet 3, whereby the tubes may be cleaned at intervals or replaced as may be desired. The opening 13 in the end of the stationary head is surrounded by an inwardly projecting flange 14 forming a seat for a cover plate 15. A gasket joint 16 may be provided between the cover plate 15 and the annular flange 14. It will be noted that the cover plate 15 is located within the chamber 10- and the arrangement is such that fluid pressure in this chamber forces the cover against its seat. In other words, the cover may be regarded as being held in place by fluid pressure within the chamber 10.

The chamber 10 within the stationary head 9 may be sub-divided into a plurality of compartments by one or more partitions, and an auxiliary cover plate secured thereto. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing I have shown one such partition at 17. An auxiliary cover plate 18 is secured to this partition by means of bolts 19 and to a plurality of threaded stubs 20 carried by the stationary head. The arrangement of the partition 17 and the auxiliary cover plate 18 is such that fluid entering the chamber 10 through the intake port 11 is caused to flow through the upper portion of the tube bundle to the cap 2, and then through the lower portion of the tube bundle to bolts 19 and a relatively light plate 18 may be employed.

It is desirable to have the main cover plate 15 and the opening 13 in the end of the stationary head of such configuration that the cover plate can be slipped through the opening into the chamber 10. This is possible where the opening and the. cover plate are both of elongated form,

and I have illustrated these parts as being oval in shape. The cover 15 may be slipped through the opening 13 by merely turning it edgewise with the minor axis of the cover plate approximately parallel with the major axis of the opening in the stationary head. After the cover is passed through the opening in this manner, it may be rotated until it registers with the opening 13 to close the same. The cover may be clamped in this position by any suitable means but I prefer to em- .ploy for this purpose a plate or ring 21 of slightly larger dimensions than the opening 13. This clamping member is therefore adapted to engage the outer face of the flange 14, and it may be secured to the cover 15 by a plurality of bolts 22.

The chamber 10 within the stationary head and the members forming the inner compartment 10' are of such size and configuration that ample space is provided within the chamber 10 for receiving the cover plate 15 when it is passed through the opening 13. The partition 17 and the auxiliary cover plate 18 are spaced apart from the cover 15 and from the opening 13 a considerable distance so as to facilitate the manipulation of the cover 15.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but includes such modifications thereof as fall within the scope of the appended claims. The details of construction may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, while the tube sheet 3 has been illustrated and described as integralwith the stationary head 9 as the preferred construction, the tube sheet 3 may be made separate and secured to the head 9 in a suitable way. The invention is particularly useful as applied to a heat exchanger arranged'for a multi-pass flow of a fluid under high pressure and there is no danger of the fluid pressure loosening the cover plate of the stationary head for this head is held firmly against its seat by the pressure within the head. The stationary head may be of massive construction designed to withstand very high pressure and the arrangement of the parts may be such that although the stationary head cover is located within the head, it may be easily removed whenever it is necessary to gain access to the interior of the head. I

The partition 17 and the auxiliary cover plate 18 detachably secured thereto serve to prevent by-passing of fluid from the inlet 11 to the outlet 12, and accordingly the fluid iscompelled to flow through the tubes within the shell 1 before being discharged from the apparatus. I prefer to arrangethe partition 17 and the cover plate 18 in such a manner that the partition is substantially parallel with the major axis of the opening 13 in the end of the stationary head, for this arrangement greatly facilitates the operation of removing the main cover plate 15. Certain features in my invention may, however, be used to advantage without employing this specific arrangement of the stationary head partition and cover plates.

I claim:

1. A heat exchanger comprising a head having a chamber therein for receiving fluid under pressure and an opening for providing access to said chamber, a plurality of tubes communicating with said chamber, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said tubes, means within said chamber for causing the fluid to flow through said tubes in a plurality of passes, the said last named means comprising a partition and a partition cover detachably secured to the partition; and a cover plate for the opening in said head, the said cover plate being held against its seat by fluid pressure in said chamber.

2. A heat exchanger comprising a head having a chamber therein for receiving fluid under pressure and an elongated opening for providing access to said chamber, a plurality of tubes communicating with said chamber, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said tubes, means within said chamber for causing the said fluid to flow through the said tubes in a plurality of passes, the said last named means comprising a partition and a partition cover secured thereto;

and a cover plate for the opening in said. head,

the said cover plate being held in position by' fluid pressure in said chamber and the said partition being disposed in substantially parallel relation to the major axis of the elongated opening in said chamber.

3. A heat exchanger comprising a head having a chamber therein for receiving fluid under cation between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, whereby fluid entering said chamber is caused to flow through said tubes, the said means comprising a partition and a partition cover secured thereto, an elongated cover plate for closing the opening in said head, a ring shaped mem ber engaging the outer surface of said head, and means for clamping said cover plate and said member to said head, the said partition being substantially parallel to the major axis of the elongated opening in said head.

JOSEPH PRICE. 

